The change, announced this week by Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, also provides free rides to people with disabilities on RTA buses, including Howard’s 30-bus fleet and seven buses in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. Riders must show valid I.D. to receive the free fare.

RTA also will create a $5 day pass for unlimited rides in a single day and reduce the price of a monthly pass from $47 in Howard County and $60 in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties to $40 everywhere.

A standard, one-way bus ride will remain $2 in all three counties.

Free rides on established bus routes could help Howard County’s roughly 14,000 disabled residents and its more than 57,000 residents 60 and older to ride the bus more and rely less on the more expensive door-to-door paratransit services, said Transportation Administrator Clive Graham.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and members of his cabinet kicked off today’s tour of Howard County, with visits scheduled to county businesses and institutions, on a somber note.

The morning was overshadowed by the sudden death of Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.

Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford opened...

While the true cost of the average bus ride is $6, the cost of a paratransit ride is $40; both services receive operating subsidies.

Paratransit services prices will incrementally increase in Howard County, going from $2.50 to $3 beginning in July and going up to $4 in July 2019 and $5 the year after in all three counties. The rides already cost $4 in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties

Graham hopes at least 1,000 rides annually shift from the paratransit services to the fixed route system as a result of the free fares. Eighty thousand paratransit trips are completed out of Howard County annually, according to Graham. He did not know the number of older adults or disabled residents projected to begin riding the bus as a result of the free fares.

The fare changes will likely help the county save money or even raise more revenue, Graham said, because it will help cut down on paratransit services. He also hopes more people will purchase monthly passes now that they’re cheaper, which could raise funds for the system since very few people bought them before, he said.

Any new money would be put to use implementing the county’s other bus plans, including more frequent route service and increased weekend service, Graham said.

The new fare policies are to consolidate pricing systems between Howard, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, which merged from two systems, Howard Transit Routes and Connect-A-Ride in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, into the RTA system in 2014.

A host of changes planned for the county’s buses, including shorter bus routes and wait times as part of the Central Maryland Transit Development Plan, are part of a larger effort to attract people to buses.

Ridership has been steadily falling over the last five years, according to Graham. In July 2014, there were 22,363 rides on the county’s route running from the Mall in Columbia to BWI Airport, according to county data. In July 2017, there were 14,816 rides, a 33 percent decrease on one of the county’s most popular routes.

Much of that loss, Graham said, is because of the rise in popularity of ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft, as well as lower gas prices, but the poor bus service in the county is also to blame for driving people away from aging buses, long wait times and lengthy bus routes. If these changes succeed, Graham said he wants to see the numbers rise back up to their previous levels.

Reliable bus service is essential for a healthy local transportation system Graham said, especially for lower-income residents who don’t have a car or can’t afford to regularly use ride-share services.

“It’s about making the system more attractive for people to ride and use,” he said. “There’s a general belief that while transit needs to change and needs to provide a better service, it is a very important part of the overall transportation system.”

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Students at Wilde Lake High School participated in the nationwide student walkout at 10 am on Wednesday, March 14.

Students at Wilde Lake High School participated in the nationwide student walkout at 10 am on Wednesday, March 14.

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Students at Wilde Lake High School participated in the nationwide student walkout at 10 am on Wednesday, March 14.

Students at Wilde Lake High School participated in the nationwide student walkout at 10 am on Wednesday, March 14.

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Former Marshall University football player 19-year-old Larry Aaron III died Thursday after complications from treatment for his injuries. Aaron was paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a stray bullet while shielding his girlfriend after gunfire broke out during a Severn New Year’s Eve party.

Former Marshall University football player 19-year-old Larry Aaron III died Thursday after complications from treatment for his injuries. Aaron was paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a stray bullet while shielding his girlfriend after gunfire broke out during a Severn New Year’s Eve party.

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Brent Kennedy discusses the latest in Howard County girls basketball in this edition of Howard County Times Sports Podcast.

Brent Kennedy sits down with Howard girls basketball senior captains Taylor Addison and Madison Eich to discuss the season so far and what lies ahead in the 4A North region playoffs. Fresh off the program’s third straight county championship, they talk about how this one compares to the previous titles and what it took to go 21-1 during the regular season. Additionally they help provide insight into the playoff outlook for some of the county’s other top teams — Long Reach, Reservoir, Glenelg and Oakland Mills, among others — that will compete in the 3A East and 2A South regions this postseason.

Brent Kennedy discusses the latest in Howard County girls basketball in this edition of Howard County Times Sports Podcast.

Brent Kennedy sits down with Howard girls basketball senior captains Taylor Addison and Madison Eich to discuss the season so far and what lies ahead in the 4A North region playoffs. Fresh off the program’s third straight county championship, they talk about how this one compares to the previous titles and what it took to go 21-1 during the regular season. Additionally they help provide insight into the playoff outlook for some of the county’s other top teams — Long Reach, Reservoir, Glenelg and Oakland Mills, among others — that will compete in the 3A East and 2A South regions this postseason.

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Senior Kai Muniz talks about winning the 800- and 1,600-meter races at the 3A indoor track and field championships on Feb. 20 (Kyle Stackpole / BSMG)

Senior Kai Muniz talks about winning the 800- and 1,600-meter races at the 3A indoor track and field championships on Feb. 20 (Kyle Stackpole / BSMG)

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Junior Sydney Robinson talks after the Hawks’ first-ever girls indoor track and field state title on Feb. 19. (Kyle Stackpole / BSMG)

Junior Sydney Robinson talks after the Hawks’ first-ever girls indoor track and field state title on Feb. 19. (Kyle Stackpole / BSMG)